Industry players on Thursday welcomed the government's move to double the allocation for the Digital India programme to Rs 3,073 crore -- a decision that will help research and skilling in Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT), among others.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are going to be major areas of growth in the tech world to leverage these for improving productivity and efficiencies, according to one of the top executives of Lenovo.

To connect the next billion, India must establish micro-data centres -- which can even run on a laptop from any location with a cell tower -- and shun gigantic data centres that can cost a bomb in terms of building physical infrastructure, a global HP Inc executive has emphasised.

After PSU banks, the government is likely to infuse capital in two chronically ill telecom PSUs BSNL and MTNL, and the Union Cabinet is likely to take a decision on 4G spectrum allocation to them by the third week of the current month after DoT places the note before it for consideration.

At a high-level meeting at the PMO late Tuesday, it was also decided that the two telcos will frame a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) to reduce their employee strength, which will be followed by a reduction in the retirement age to 58.